The Wrasse Lover's Thread!

[OrionN]

It works fine. You can have a small bin of sand. I used a 6x6 inch box in my sump for my sand sleep wrasse. Of course you need wider area if you have multiple. Minimal 4x4 is what you need IMO. 1+ inch deep.

 

[i cant think]

Question for you all:

I’ve heard of people using bins of sand placed in tanks for sand sleepers, mostly in cases of acclimation or QT, but I’ve not often heard experiences from people who have done this long term. Has anyone here used this approach long term and had success?

My daughter saw a blue star leopard a week ago and was infatuated. To promote their interest in the hobby and caring for creatures, I always try to get any fish that my kids show an interest in as long as it can be properly cared for. In this case, having switched to a bare bottom set up a few years ago, the only way the leopard would work is using some type of acrylic bin placed in the tank that would provide sand.

My initial thought is this wouldn’t work, and I explained this to my little one, but it did make me curious to know if others here have done this. I figured I’d ask if any of you all have any experience to share.

If I ever get rid of my sand in my nano I’d do this and I have a good idea as to how I could make it work flushly with the tank.
Yes this does work long term, I know many reefers who do this but I wouldn’t class their tank as truly bare bottom (more so a hybrid of sand and bare).

 

[jkcoral]

It works fine. You can have a small bin of sand. I used a 6x6 inch box in my sump for my sand sleep wrasse. Of course you need wider area if you have multiple. Minimal 4x4 is what you need IMO. 1+ inch deep.

Interesting! That is awesome.

If I were to try this, the leopard would be the only one. There’s a spot behind some rock work that I could fit a ~5.5”x4.5”x~2.5” bin, so maybe I’ll consider giving it a shot.

Did you have to “train” your fish to use the box in some way? Or did they take to it quickly as soon as they saw it?

 

[i cant think]

Interesting! That is awesome.

If I were to try this, the leopard would be the only one. There’s a spot behind some rock work that I could fit a ~5.5”x4.5”x~2.5” bin, so maybe I’ll consider giving it a shot.

Did you have to “train” your fish to use the box in some way? Or did they take to it quickly as soon as they saw it?

Generally these fish will look for sand and when they find it they bury ASAP.

 

[jkcoral]

If I ever get rid of my sand in my nano I’d do this and I have a good idea as to how I could make it work flushly with the tank.
Yes this does work long term, I know many reefers who do this but I wouldn’t class their tank as truly bare bottom (more so a hybrid of sand and bare).

This is cool to hear. I didn’t know that people had used this long term with success. I made the switch to bare bottom a few years ago after keeping traditional tanks for years and years. When I was considering making the switch I just figured I’d have to forfeit the ability to keep these types.

Generally these fish will look for sand and when they find it they bury ASAP.

I think I’ll get a box made and give this a shot. Do you think 2-2.5inches of sand depth would be enough? I had a ~4” sand bed years ago and never worried about depth, even for my yellow coris that used to dive bomb into it at 1000 miles per hour. I just don’t want an injury to happen!

 

[i cant think]

I think I’ll get a box made and give this a shot. Do you think 2-2.5inches of sand depth would be enough? I had a ~4” sand bed years ago and never worried about depth, even for my yellow coris that used to dive bomb into it at 1000 miles per hour. I just don’t want an injury to happen!

Put it this way, I have two tanks and both have sand sleepers. My sand in my nano at its deepest is 1.5” and not much deeper, my sand in the 4’ is a good 2.5” deep at its shallowest (4” is the average depth in that tank). If the wrasse has enough sand to completely cover its body, it’s likely to love it. I’ve found Halichoeres to be more aggressive than other sand sleeping genera when it comes to diving into the sand. 2.5” is a great depth and you always can add to it if you feel the need to.

 

[i cant think]

And talking about my wrasses, these two boys are getting up there in age. They’re both soon to be 3 years old. And they’re showing their age as they aren’t displaying much at all now.

The question is after these two pass, will I grab a ‘pair’ of lubbocki again. But hopefully that question doesn’t happen too soon.

 

[Tcook]

And talking about my wrasses, these two boys are getting up there in age. They’re both soon to be 3 years old. And they’re showing their age as they aren’t displaying much at all now.

The question is after these two pass, will I grab a ‘pair’ of lubbocki again. But hopefully that question doesn’t happen too soon.

Time flies by!

 

[i cant think]

Time flies by!

It really does!
In a way I’m glad I have been able to keep them this long and have them thrive together but at the same time it’s a hard time as they’re likely to live maybe a year or shorter, I know generally fairies and flashers live 5 years but these guys were males when I picked them up.

 

[jkcoral]

Mr. and Mrs. Pink Streaked are taking their morning stroll together. Had to stop and snap a few photos. She is still very small (but has been putting on weight nicely) and is much more hesitant and reclusive once the larger fish are bustling about. So I like seeing the two of them take their peaceful morning cruises together before everyone else is up.

 

[EgotisticObeseChihuahua]

Anyone have any reef safe wrasse suggestions? I am looking for peaceful ones that will not eat my sexy shrimp. Thanks

 

[jkcoral]

It really does!
In a way I’m glad I have been able to keep them this long and have them thrive together but at the same time it’s a hard time as they’re likely to live maybe a year or shorter, I know generally fairies and flashers live 5 years but these guys were males when I picked them up.

That is super cool that you’ve had those two. It’s really neat that they are each one of the different color variants. I’ve always liked the cebu (I think) ones with the bars.

Every Lubbock I’ve ever had was hot headed. Really cool to see yours have lived together, and I’m jealous!

 

[i cant think]

Anyone have any reef safe wrasse suggestions? I am looking for peaceful ones that will not eat my sexy shrimp. Thanks

what size tank do you have?

 

[EgotisticObeseChihuahua]

what size tank do you have?

Sorry, forgot about that information. I have a 120 high with a lot of hiding places and a bit of flow.

 

[i cant think]

Sorry, forgot about that information. I have a 120 high with a lot of hiding places and a bit of flow.

Any Cirrhilabrus and Paracheilinus species will work.
Do your shrimp have a host anemone already? Most wrasses will ignore shrimp in a host anemone IME, so you should be safest with Macropharyngodon, Anampses, Xenojulis and Pseudojuloides.

 

[EgotisticObeseChihuahua]

Any Cirrhilabrus and Paracheilinus species will work.
Do your shrimp have a host anemone already? Most wrasses will ignore shrimp in a host anemone IME, so you should be safest with Macropharyngodon, Anampses, Xenojulis and Pseudojuloides.

Ok Thanks, I have no anemone, nor a plan for one so I will stick to these species. Thank you

 

[Tcook]

Mr. and Mrs. Pink Streaked are taking their morning stroll together. Had to stop and snap a few photos. She is still very small (but has been putting on weight nicely) and is much more hesitant and reclusive once the larger fish are bustling about. So I like seeing the two of them take their peaceful morning cruises together before everyone else is up.

Two things hard to find these days. Pink streak and derasa.

 

[SaltyT]

Any Cirrhilabrus and Paracheilinus species will work.
Do your shrimp have a host anemone already? Most wrasses will ignore shrimp in a host anemone IME, so you should be safest with Macropharyngodon, Anampses, Xenojulis and Pseudojuloides.

It depends on the anemone, sexy shrimp are fair game to wrasses that hunt if the shrimp are being hosted by maxi minis, RFAs or BTAs.

 

[sdreef]

A 6 month follow-up on the lennardi. Here was my original post from early December.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-wrasse-lovers-thread.113942/post-10842634
She has grown fast! Originally about 1.5" can see the size compared to the Potter's that is a little over 4" outside the acclimation box. The lennardi is now is about 3-4" in length. Has been a model citizen.

I dropped the system temperature and it's 75-76 most of the time, but occasionally bumps up a little warmer.

 

[jkcoral]

Two things hard to find these days. Pink streak and derasa.

First time I've ever owned a clam. I got it about 3 weeks ago for what seemed like a good price ($50) and decided to try my hand at caring for one. Pretty neat little clam, but my favorite thing about it has been it becoming one of the primary pink streak hang out spots :)